title: Corticosteroid transdermal delivery to target swelling, edema and inflammation following facial rejuvenation procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of transdermal therapeutic systems has spread worldwide since they allow effective local drug delivery. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a new betamethasone valerate medicated plaster (Betesil®) to manage facial swelling, edema, inflammation, ecchymosis, and hematoma, when applied immediately after a facial rejuvenation procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied the plaster to the skin of 20 healthy patients for 12 hours immediately after hyaluronic acid-based procedure performed with the aim of erasing facial wrinkles of perioral and nasolabial folds and improving chin and eye contour. A further 20 patients underwent the same cosmetic procedure, but they were treated with an aescin 10% cream (applied immediately after the procedure, in the evening, and the morning after) and served as control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Betesil® application resulted in a significant improvement in swelling/edema/inflammation score, if compared with aescin 10% cream (P < 0.01). As for facial ecchymosis and hematoma around the needle injection track, only two patients in the active treatment group displayed minimal ecchymosis and hematoma. In the control group, two patients presented minimal ecchymosis and three slight hematoma. However, using the ecchymosis/hematoma score, no significant difference between Betesil® and aescin 10% cream groups was observed. Patients' satisfaction was significantly higher among subjects receiving Betesil®, if compared to patients receiving aescin 10% cream (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study supports the use of Betesil® plaster immediately after facial cosmetic procedures in order to safely control swelling, edema, and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK ; Poliambulatorio del Secondo Parere, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iannitti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rottigni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palmieri
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004928:Escin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004928:Escin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate
keywords: aesthetic medicine; betamethasone valerate; hyaluronic acid; transdermal therapeutic system